Have you ever felt left out or not included? In the early church the Gentile believers felt this way.  Most of the leaders of the Way had their background in Judaism.  This led to the Gentiles being “outsiders” and at times looked down upon.  This new religion which was beginning was really just Judaism where the Messiah had come.  Many Gentiles, led by the missionary work of Paul, began to comer to faith.  Through the work of Jesus on the cross these two groups became one group.  Let’s look at Paul’s words about this from Ephesians 2.

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Through the work of Jesus on the cross peace has been made between us and God and also between Jew and Gentile. Our God is a God who makes broken things and broken people whole again.  One day soon we will all worship Him together in unity and in His presence.  Just as God brought us “outsiders” in we should reach out to those who often find themselves in the margins of society.  Loving the least and the lost is what Jesus did and it’s what He calls us to as well.  Today and everyday make it a point to intentionally show love to someone who might be on the outside.  Who knows you just may point them to Jesus

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave